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Advent 4A LECTIONARY GENERATED LITURGY Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 Rec. text- NRSV Hymns are from the Australian Hymn Book (AHB) or Together in Song (TIS) unless otherwise indicated. Worship leader - normal type; responses - bold type Permission is granted to churches to use this material in services of worship. This liturgy remains the property of Moira B Laidlaw Additional resources for Advent 4A: Advent Wreath, Cardboard cutout of baby (see below); All Together Everybody, Lutheran Publishing House, Adelaide, 1991; All Together OK, Openbook Publishers, Adelaide, 1996; As One Voice, Volume 2,Willow Connection Pty Ltd, Manly Vale, NSW 2093, 1997; Be our Freedom, Lord, Terry Falla, Openbook Publishers, Adelaide, S.A., 5000, 1994 CALL TO WORSHIP: Based on Psalm 80 verses 3,4,6,7,17-19 Hot summer sun. A smouldering log. How long before a bushfire bursts forth? Not long... O God, how long will your anger smoulder against the prayers of your people? Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. We who worship you are increasingly becoming the scorn of our neighbours; those who worship other gods laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one you made strong for yourself. Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. TIS 42: " O shepherd of Israel, hear us" TIS 274/AHB 202: "The people that in darkness walked" TIS 675/ALL TOGETHER EVERYBODY 217: "Lord the light of your love is shining" ALL TOGETHER OK 313/AS ONE VOICE vol. 2; 3: "Christ be our light" ADVENT WREATH CHILD/YOUTH: The season of Advent continues. Today we shall be lighting the candle of love. ADULT: No other word so completely describes what we know of our God. For God so loved the world that a child was given....God's love in human form. CHILD/YOUTH:We wait in hope and peace, and with joy. The two purple candles and the pink candle are lit ADULT: We light the candle of love to proclaim that God's love is revealed in the Child born in Bethlehem, and we are challenged to proclaim and reveal that same love as we live out our faith here in Australia. The purple candle is lit We give thanks for a love that passes our human understanding, and we await once more the birth of God's enduring love this Christmas. Amen TIS 286 : "Light one candle for hope" A WORD WITH THE CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE - There is a beautiful hymn which has these words in it" Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine". Ask the children/young people if they can say why the words were written like that - "Love" came down - whose love? and why? If you have a printed order of service and have used the Advent wreath liturgy above, tell them that the answer is there... God's love for us became visible in a person - when Jesus was born. Before that, people could only talk about God's love in an abstract way - but in Jesus that love could be seen and experienced. That's why the hymn says "Love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign." Show the cardboard cutout (suggestion below) and ask them if they know who it is supposed to be... hopefully they'll say 'Jesus'... turn the board over and show the word "Love" and say that Jesus didn't have to go around with the word written on his back (like the cutout) as God's love was so much a part of him that everything he did grew out of that love. Christmas is that special time when we show our love for others in visible ways to people we know (ask how) and to people we don't even know - this is an opportunity to speak about the Christmas Bowl. Jesus, however, wants us to be loving and kind all year, not just at Christmas. As the last verse of the hymn says - "Love shall be our token" - that means that our love will remind people of God's love and Jesus' love, because we will do loving and caring deeds and speak loving and caring words as often as we possibly can. Either sing TIS 317/AHB 243 : "Love came down at Christmas" Invite people to replace "men" in v.3 with 'everyone' in AHB 243 or sing TIS 318/AHB 242 "Away in a manger  On a piece of firm cardboard draw a picture of baby Jesus wrapped inswaddling clothes. Cut around the picture and turn it over. Print the word LOVE taking up as much of the space as possible. Fill background in with dark colour. I made mine about 28cms (11 inches) long and 17 cms (61/2 inches at widest part. INTRODUCTION TO PRAYER OF CONFESSION We have heard Christmas carols booming throughout shopping malls and supermarkets for so long that they have become part of the background noise of the season. "The silly season" the media tells us - when partying and holidays are the 'true' reason for the season. Let us pray: God of love, the Psalmist was right in asking how long will you be angry with your people - because we, in our weakness, get caught up so easily in the 'silliness' of this season. Our sense of wonder over the depth of your love for us becomes dulled. Our preoccupation with choosing suitable gifts and preparing acceptable food can make us quite unloving as Christmas draws nearer. Forgive us, O God, when we have failed in word or deed to proclaim that the birth of Jesus is the wonderful and true reason for the Christmas season. A time of silent confession Rekindle our sense of wonder, O God, at your choosing to share our humanity by being born, as we all were, a vulnerable and helpless baby. Merciful God, as we watch and wait for your breaking into our world once more, in the person of Jesus, shape and reshape our priorities so that the gift we give which is most cherished will be our witness to your love in ways that are transforming, visible and lasting. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS : Through God's love, we are restored and saved, for God entered our world in Jesus Christ, "not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." "Those who believe in him are not condemned." (John 3,17, 18) Thanks be to God! SHARING A SIGN OF PEACE As a forgiven and forgiving people, let us reach out to one another with the peace of Jesus Christ. The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. Invite folk to share a sign of peace with those around about. OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 7: 10-16 EPISTLE: Romans 1:1-7 GOSPEL: Matthew 1:18-25 SERMON TIS 307/AHB 232: "The Virgin Mary had a baby boy" TIS 283: "Long ago prophets knew Christ would come" SUGGESTIONS FOR PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION "Tomorrows filled with promise" Page 250; "Voices of the night" Page 255 ; "The unquenchable hope"on page 187 f in Be our Freedom, Lord THE LORD'S PRAYER OFFERING OFFERTORY PRAYER Gracious and loving God, we offer our prayers and these gifts to you in response to your great love for us. May these tokens of our love proclaim that the true reason for our joy this Christmas season is the birth of your love in human form in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, in whose name we pray. Amen TIS 269/AHB 197 : "Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes" TIS 267/AHB 193: "O come, O come, Emmanuel" TIS 275/AHB 203: "Hail to the Lord's anointed" TIS 308/AHB 230: "To us a child of royal birth" BENEDICTION Go into this week blessed with the assurance that you are beloved by God valued by Jesus Christ strengthened by the Holy Spirit |